Girls Write Now 2024 Radical Gratitude Spring Awards

Girls Write Now’s Radical Gratitude Spring Awards honored Grace Bastidas, Robert Hammer, and Jon Yaged for their investment in growing the next generation of writers and leaders in publishing, media, & beyond.

New York, NY – May 1, 2024

Learn more about the event here. View photos here. Watch the honorees’ speeches here.

On May 1, in celebration of our 25th anniversary, Girls Write Now’s Radical Gratitude Spring Awards honored Grace Bastidas, Editor in Chief of Parents Dotdash Meredith; Robert Hammer, Founder of Hammer Ventures; and Jon Yaged, Chief Executive Officer of Macmillan Publishers, extraordinary leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion, for their investment in growing the next generation of writers and leaders in publishing, media, and beyond. They are all game-changers who back their principles with a deep investment of time, money, and expertise. Their commitment to Girls Write Now dates back not months, not years—but decades. Indeed, we are radically grateful.

Gathering in the spacious, sunlight-filled West Room of Nine Orchard in lower Manhattan, the evening was a chance for friends across our community, both old and new, to celebrate those who continue to support, mentor, and inspire us for the next 25 years to come. A dollar-for-dollar matching grant up to a total of $50,000 was announced at the awards. You can double your impact today by investing in the next generation of writers and leaders.

Special guests included Ellen Archer, Judith Curr, Steve Israel, Madeline McIntosh, and Krishan Trotman. Angeline Boulley, Lisa Chai, and Alicia Menendez served as presenters for the honorees.

We heard from mentee speakers JoliAmour Dubose-Morris, Kaya Fraser, Kayah Hodge, and Najaya Royal. Najaya performed a remix of a poem she first breathed life into in 2013, entitled “Just Smile.” JoliAmour and Kaya shared their experience writing and editing Girls Write Now On the Art of the Craft: A Guidebook To Collaborative Storytelling (HarperOne, April 2024), and Kayah discussed the support she has received at both Girls Write Now and Macmillan, where she currently works.

We are grateful to our community for their time and dedication to uplifting one another and the next generation of change makers.

What the world needs now is Girls Write Now

Ellen Archer, Board Chair Emerita